2009 TOP TEN METAL ALBUMS

Although I will be leaving my post as metal director and host of "the drive" in a couple weeks, I will certainly stay involved in hard rock and metal, and will continue to put my two cents into doing a year end list.
Before we get into the best of 2009 in metal, how about honorable mentions and then the most disappointing albums.
In my opinion, the six albums that sucked included two female fronted bands, which really bothers me since it's my second fave metal genre(melodeath is the best) and that not too many metal and hard rock albums feature chicks singing and screaming. Sirenia dropped 13th floor, which had a great opening song. The album lacked any substance and it garnered only a couple spins. Even more disappointing was the sophomore album from Echoes of Eternity. I counted down roughly 1000 days for this new album, and all we got was a mediocre album. While others thought they matured, I found in an uninspiring letdown that featured less prog and weaker guitar work. Stratovarius gave us Polaris, which was horrific. Although track #2, Falling Star was amazing, the other 10 cuts put me to sleep. Amoral, a band who I had at #1 a couple years on back for arguably the best melodeath album ever(Reptile Ride), released a soft rock album Show Your Colors. I have never witnessed a 180 like this. I was nearly in tears from the utter blindsided disappointment. Lastly, Lamb of God and Chimaira pushed out albums that all in all were gigantic flops.
As far as honorable mentions, two really stand out for me. I really dug new stuff from Elis, a great female led album entitled Catharsis. The guitar work is downright perfect with the vocals. The other album that just missed my top ten was the new album from Conducting from the Grave. I bought their shirt at the NEMHF and show my love for it that way.
Although I have hundreds of metal albums from 2009 I have yet to truly listen to, here are my favorite ten metal albums. Comments and suggestions encouraged from those who know me.

10. MEGADETH-ENDGAME: Obviously, it's all about the leads with this type of band. Sure, a couple choruses stand out, but the solos are razor sharp and carry the album. Calling this album Rust in Peace II is not only fair but is spot-on accurate.

9. MENA BRINNO-WICKED POLLY: Katy Decker and her goth metallers find gold in this here sophomore release. Female fronted folk metal with killer solos and symphonic goodies. The opener is great, but it's "Court Me" that makes this album brilliant.

8. WOE OF TYRANTS- KINGDOM OF MIGHT: I do have a shade of bias here, as I had a great live radio interview with them one week before and because my girlfriend and I spent the opening night of the 2009 NEMHF with these guys. They are so down to earth. The album is brutal and yet catchy. The solos and riffs are delicious.

7. IGNOMINOUS INCARCERATION- OF WINTER BORN: Melo-death from the UK. Although it is their debut, it is forever memorable. It's mighty technical too. It may only be 35 minutes, but it's still perfect. It's the type of album you can leave on repeat and it never gets repetitive.

6. SKYFIRE- ESOTERIC: Yes, it was indeed worth the 5 year wait from these Swedes who play a unique progressive melodic death metal. If you like a darker style of power metal, filled with harmonious guitar work and keyboards, then check this one out from Pivotal.

5. LUNA MORTIS- THE ABSENCE: I must again mention a little bit of bias here with the female fronted metallers formerly known as The Ottoman Empire, as I've interviewed Mary on several occasions and love her spread in Century Media's Hottest Chicks in Metal 2009 Calender. But the album is full of great solos and catchy choruses. If you don't believe me, check out arguably the best metal song from 2009, the title track.

4. SCAR SYMMETRY- DARK MATTER DIMENSIONS: When I learned that my favorite metal band(since they hit the scene in early 2005) fired Christian Alvestam and hired to singers for this there 4th album, I was sick to my stomach. Sure, this album may not be as good as the first two, but it still gives fans of melodeath what we seek: catchy chorus, riffs, keys and solos. The clean/harsh new tandem works quite well. There are some great songs here, but track #6 Nonhuman Era is arguably the best melodeath song in several years.

3. AMORPHIS- SKYFORGER: Amazing Finnish metal folk metallers blast out a melodic masterpiece, full of great clean/harsh vocals, keys, piano moments, and atmospheric riffs and leads. The first four cuts are perfect, as is the rest of the album. I found this album to lack absolutely nothing.

2. AMBERIAN DAWN- THE CLOUDS OF NORTHLAND THUNDER: I have to thank the folks at Ascendance Records for sending this album from Finland to Boston. It's exactly like its predecessor debut. This is female fronted operatic/symphonic metal at its best. For those who dream of Nightwish to beg Tarja back, forget it and get into this. Every song is great, and I mean every single cut, all 12 of them. But its #11, Morning Star, that sends shivers down your spine and stay in your head for days at end.

1. DARKANE- DEMONIC ART: New singer, same result. Superb techy melo-death. This may be the most underrated metal bands out there. They have great musicians who coexist perfectly. The album is thrashy but contains epic melodic riffs and solos. It's nearly impossible to accurately describe the style of this album. It's a unique blend of melothrash that contains some of the best choruses and melodic leads to be found in any genre of metal today.